In a major step towards improving urban safety and aesthetics, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Tuesday launched a crackdown on illegal and hazardous overhead cables across the city. The civic body has formed dedicated teams to carry out the action, which will now be conducted regularly in different areas.
The action was initiated along the busy Pune-Satara Road in the Adinath Society area, where officials from the electrical, encroachment and fire departments jointly removed unauthorised cable networks. The move comes amid growing concerns over the increasing clutter of overhead wires and the risks they pose to citizens.
Standing Committee Chairman Shrinath Bhimale said the city has witnessed rampant installation of cables by telecom and other service providers without proper permissions. “These cables, including guy wires, have been laid in a haphazard manner, leading to safety hazards and spoiling the city’s appearance,” he said, adding that the drive will be intensified and extended to all parts of Pune in a phased manner.
A recent survey by the civic body revealed that nearly 3,600 kilometres of cables within PMC limits are unauthorised. Officials pointed out that despite clear rules allowing only underground cabling, many companies have continued to install overhead lines on poles and buildings, creating a tangled web across roads and public spaces. In some cases, the use of aluminium-based guy wires has raised concerns of potential electrocution.
Civic officials has given stern warnings that if companies found violating norms will face strict penalties. For laying cables, service providers must take prior permission from the PMC and make the payment of applicable charges for laying the wire.
Prior permission from the PMC and payment of applicable charges are mandatory for laying cables, and service providers have been directed to shift to underground systems.
Chief Electrical Engineer Manisha Shekatkar said that action had already been initiated earlier this year, with over 123 kilometres of illegal cables removed since January. “The campaign will now be carried out more aggressively,” she said.
The PMC believes the drive will not only reduce safety risks but also help improve the city’s visual landscape, which has long been affected by unregulated cable networks.
